By Nelson Manneh
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on Tuesday 25 February 2025 commenced training with partners on how to report under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICRMW).
The three-day training session is meant to widen participants’ knowledge and understanding of the IRCMW reporting process to enhance the mapping of the LOIPRs and also involve key stakeholders in the reporting process.
The OHCHR-PROMIS aims to organize training sessions for the Ministry of Justice to build its capacity to fulfill its reporting obligations under the IRCMW. This partnership with the United Nations seeks to enhance the MOJ’s and the Ministry of Interior’s capacity to effectively address the rights and welfare of migrant workers, support the fulfillment of The Gambia’s reporting obligations under the IRCMW, create an ad hoc coordination committee to draft the initial report and address the list of issues before submission of the initial report of The Gambia.
As part of its commitment to protecting migrant workers, The Gambia has prioritized the IRCMW within its national migration policy, aligning its domestic laws with international standards. This ensures that Gambian migrant workers abroad receive the protections and support guaranteed by the Convention.
Mr. Hussein Thomasi, the Solicitor General and Legal Secretary, Ministry of Justice, said in recognizing the pivotal role of migrant workers at both national and global levels, the Government of The Gambia (GoTG) has made substantial progress in promoting the rights of migrant workers through international frameworks, notably the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (IRCMW).
He said that in July 2003, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families entered into force.
“This comprehensive international treaty focuses on ensuring the protection of migrant workers’ rights and aims to safeguard their dignity and well-being, particularly in their host countries. The Convention serves as a crucial framework for promoting and protecting the human rights of migrant workers globally,” he said.
The Legal Secretary said on December 26, 2023, the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families issued a list of issues before the submission of the initial report of the Gambia.
He said that the Committee invited the state to provide information on new provisions or changes to the domestic legal framework related to the Convention as well as information regarding the protection of migrant workers, updated disaggregated data, and qualitative information.
“Article 73 of the International Convention on the Protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families provides that States parties undertake to submit to the Secretary General of the United Nations for consideration by the Committee a report on the measures they have taken to give effect to the provisions of the Convention,” he said.
He explained that in 2023, The Gambia updated its Labor Migration Policy, incorporating elements of the IRCMW to further promote the protection of migrant workers and ensure that their rights are upheld throughout the migration process. The updated policy includes provisions aimed at reducing trafficking risks, curbing exploitation, and enhancing ethical recruitment practices.
“The Gambia is also actively participating in international forums to advocate for the widespread adoption of the IRCMW and the strengthening of protections for migrant workers. In 2024, the Gambia participated in the Second Regional Review of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia reaffirming the importance of aligning migration governance with international human rights frameworks like the IRCMW,” he stated.
